Alcohol debate - NT Opposition leader

LOUISA REBGETZ, PRESENTER: I spoke to the Opposition leader Delia Lawrie earlier, about the debate over easing alcohol restrictions.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Delia Lawrie welcome to the program.

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: Thank you Louisa.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Can non-Indigenous politicians speak for Aboriginal people or should it be up to Aboriginal people to decide if they want to allow alcohol into their communities?

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: Look we're all Territorians whether we're Indigenous or non-indigenous so this idea that only an Aboriginal person can speak on Aboriginal issues is bizarre to me. You know we live here together, we grow up our children together and we share this country so I'm the leader of the Opposition. I will go out and consult with Aboriginal Territorians as I'll consult with people from other races in the Territory.

LOUISA REBGETZ: What did you think of the tone of that debate last night?

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: Oh look it's always vexed. When you're talking about the issue of grog and communities of course you're going to the heart of the grief we've all seen, the death, the suicide, the harm to children, the abuse, the deep sadness, and so it becomes passionate. It went a little bit too far I thought from a couple of the members but that's their style.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Bess Price in Parliament talked about your lack of consultation with the Indigenous Advisory Board, when she was the chairwoman. She said she had no idea about the 'enough is enough' alcohol policy, do you now regret that?

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: Well look what I did with the 'enough is enough' alcohol policy when I was creating the policy and when I launched the policy as a discussion paper, I invited a broad range of stakeholders and I didn't single out the Indigenous Advisory Council - I was focussing on the health service providers - people who work in the alcohol treatment space - lawyers and the like, doctors, so people who were intrinsically involved in the frontline alcohol issues. I didn't see it as an Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal issue - I made the point right through the banned drinker register reforms and alcohol reforms, it's for anyone who has a problem with drinking, Indigenous Territorians drink at 1.7 times the national average, non-indigenous Territorians drink at 1.5 times the national average - it's Territorians who have a problem handling the grog, not just Indigenous Territorians.

LOUISA REBGETZ: You've been touring remote communities like the Tiwi Islands where Labor lost their traditional voter support, what is the overriding messages that you're hearing?

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: Well look we lost in one booth, you know first of all. So this idea that you know we lost right across the bush and everyone in the bush is anti-Labor I'm sorry, it's a non-sense. Melville Island, all those booths voted predominantly for Dean Rioli, the Labor candidate. We dramatically lost at the Nguiu booth. I went to find out. I went to listen. The response from Nguiu was it was very much a vote for the grog. There was a lot of pressure on the people - the Tiwi Island Land Council had backed Francis Xavier, had backed his campaign and were using their cultural authority to instruct people in Nguiu, really, they wanted them to vote for Francis Xavier - that was a very strong message over there.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Do you believe that if there is a vote to allow alcohol, full-strength grog into the Tiwi Islands, do you think it would get up?

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: The federal legislation in Stronger Futures where Jenny Macklin actually ultimately decides these issues in remote communities because they're prescribed areas does have a provision in there, regardless of a vote, for the federal Minister to consider the effects on women and children so there is a recognition in the Commonwealth at least, that a vote simply and purely isn't necessarily the appropriate way to decide whether you bring grog back in.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Now you waited two months before raising allegations the Deputy Speaker, Gary Higgins, made offensive comments to a Labor campaign volunteer - allegations he denies. Why did you wait so long to come out with this?

DELIA LAWRIE, OPPOSITION LEADER: Look I first heard of it about a month ago and I was told that the woman was very traumatised and wanted time, but she did want to ultimately speak to me about it so I waited. I was then contacted again and said she was ready to talk to me, she came in to see me just a couple of weeks ago. We had a chat about it and it wasn't until one o'clock on Tuesday before the debate on the Deputy Speaker appointment that she finally gave me the go ahead to raise the allegations.